Bailang Pulu Weaving Cooperative

Pulu is not one thing. It is the wall of our tent, the blanket on our bed, the cloth on our shoulders. It is the fabric of Tibetan life.

The Pulu Tradition

Pulu (姘嗘皣) is the foundational textile of Tibetan culture鈥攚oven on simple wooden looms by hand, using locally sourced sheep wool. Unlike knotted carpets, pulu is a dense flat weave: warp and weft interlaced so tightly that the fabric becomes windproof, water-resistant, and exceptionally durable.

For centuries, pulu has been the material of everyday Tibetan life. It lines the walls of monastery prayer halls. It forms the inner layer of nomad tents. It wraps around the shoulders of farmers and monks alike. Regional variations in stripe patterns, density, and colour identify the weaver's home valley the way a dialect identifies a speaker's origin.

Bailang County

The Bailang Pulu Weaving Cooperative brings together 12 weaving families from villages across Bailang County, one of Tibet's most respected pulu-producing regions. The cooperative preserves traditional loom designs and stripe patterns while organising production, quality control, and market access for its members.

Each weaver works from home on a family loom鈥攕ome passed down for three or four generations. The cooperative provides raw wool, natural dyes, and design specifications; each family weaves at their own pace. A single pulu wall tapestry at 90 脳 150 cm takes approximately 3 weeks to complete.

The Weave

Pulu is woven on a horizontal ground loom or a simple frame loom. The weft is beaten down with extraordinary force鈥攆ar more densely than most flat weaves鈥攃reating a fabric that is simultaneously flexible and almost board-like in its resistance to wind. This density is what makes pulu suitable for tent walls on the 4,500-metre plateau.

Working with ALPORA

ALPORA commissions pulu pieces in traditional stripe patterns derived from specific regional weaving traditions. Each piece carries a small woven tag identifying the weaving family. The cooperative ensures consistent wool quality and dye standards across all member families.